Dark Romanticism by Text by Mr. Y.; Graphics by Sara Boucher

Overview literary sub-genre – emerged from the Transcendental movement Influenced by Transcendentalism, –Dark Romanticism notably less optimistic about mankind and divinity.

Characteristics Focus on the tragic rather than the optimistic. Characters are: –prone to sin –mental aberration –self-destruction –Do not inherently possess divinity and wisdom (A Transcendental Thought)

More Characteristics Evil anthropomorphosized: –Satan, –devils, –ghosts, –vampires – etc. –fog Nature: –cruel and to be feared not pacifying and admired. –dark, decaying, and mysterious; when it does reveal truth to man, its revelations are evil and hellish. –Shows individuals failing in their attempts to make changes for the better.

The Dark Romantics Who are they? Most notable dark romantic authors (1800s): – Edgar Allen Poe –Nathaniel Hawthorne – Herman Melville – Emily Dickinson –H.P. Lovecraft (1920s-30s)

Poe seminal dark romantic author Common subjects –Fragile psychology of man—insanity Evil Acts via insanity rather than pure evil –Buried alive –Duplicity –Heightened senses –The supernatural Invented the short story and detective story. Famous works: “The Tell Tale Heart,“ " The Fall Of The House Of Usher,” “Pit and the Pendulum,” “Cask of Amontillado”; poem “The Raven"

Hawthorne Has closest ties to the American Transcendental movement works often cautionary tales: –extreme individualism –guilt and sin.

Melville Best known during his lifetime for his travel books, a twentieth-century revival in the study of Herman Melville’s works has left “Moby-Dick” and “Bartleby the Scrivener” among his most highly regarded. Themes: man's blind ambition, cruelty, and defiance of God, madness, mystery, and the triumph of evil over good

Dickinson poems cover a broad spectrum of themes –many can be classified Dark Romantic. –reflect her early and lifelong fascination with: illness dying death the soul afterlife.

See my Lovecraft PowerPoint! H.P. LOVECRAFT

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